Tongs.



C. H. FRAKES.

TONGS.

APPLIGATION FILED Auo.s.191a.

1, 1 1 9,4 1 9. Patented Dec. 1,1914.

narran sfrafrns rafrniwr ersten.

CHARLES `H. FRAKES, OF

roues.

Application led August 6,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Francs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bertrand, in the county of Phelps, State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongs; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices such astongs and pliers.

The object of the present invention resides particularly in theprovision of tongs, whereby eave troughs may be grasped and held whilethey are being soldered into place and the invention furthercontemplates the provision of means for automatically locking thegripping jaws of the tongs in intimate relation so that the trough maybe grasped and the tongs ,automatically locked thereon, thus obviatingthe necessity of the operator exerting a gripping action on the tongsduring the entire time the trough is being held thereby.`

A further object of the invention is to simplify the general structureand improve the efficiency of devices of this character.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in thenovel combination, formation and arrangement of parts to be more fullyhereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings andparticularly pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein similar charactersof reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views,and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved tongs holding aneave trough, Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 o Fig. 1, Fig. 3is a top plan view of what is shown in Fig. 1. and Fig. 4l is aperspective view of the locking link.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawingsthe tongsare shown as comprising upper and lower handle portions 5 and. 6respectively, provided at their Specification of Letters Patent.

BERTRAND, NEBRASKA.

ratemeanee. 1, 1914..

1913. Seria1N0.783,403.

forward portions with cutaway parts 7 piv otallv connected by the rivet8. The upper handle portion is extended to form a lower or receiving jaw9 and the lower handle portion is extended to form a clamping jaw 10.These jaws are arcuate in shape to receive therebetween the trough 11.For seating the bead of the trough, the upper jaw 9 is provided adjacentthe cutaway part 7 with an upwardly bowed portion l2 and the lower jaw 9is thickened adjacent its cutaway portion and has the top portionthereof cutaway at 13. Thus the jaws are adapted to clampingly engagethe trough throughout their entire lengths.

To protect the hands of the operator, the lower jaw is provided with aguard portion 14 terminating at its ends in lateral extensions securedto and preferably integral with the outer end portion of the handle.

For automatically locking the jaws in intimate relation, a link 1,5 isprovided and pivotally held between furcations 1G at the end of theupper handle by a pin 17. The free portion of the link 1.5 is cutaway toprovide a shoulder 18 and the free end of the link is leveled as at 19.The end of the lower handle portion G of the tongs is also beveled sothat when the handle portions are brought together the beveled portionof the link will engage the beveled por tion of the lower handle andcause the link to swing outwardly. A spring 9.0 is provided for normallyswinging the link inward and this spring comprises an angular leafspring secured at its ends at 21 to the link and the lower handleportion. The spring is thus limited in its inward swinging movement.Therefore when the handle portions are brought together, the link willautomatically engage over the end of the lower handle portion and thusclamp the jaws together.

From the foregoing it is observed that a very simple structure has beenprovided which Iwill ellicientlv perform the functions normallylreauired thereof.

lVhat is claimed is:

A device of the class described comprising a pair of handle portionspivoted togather 'and terminating 1n coperating jaws,

Copies `Witnesses of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressin Washington, D.

tion andv constituting a support for the inner side of the bead.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, 1n the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES H. FRAKES.

Rescol: J,- SLATEB, HILDA CARLSON.

g' the Commissioner of Patents,

